WD98:How to Change Default Tabs Stops Globally in Microsoft Word

Last reviewed: February 17, 1998
Article ID: Q176690
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

This article describes how to change the default tab stops so that every new document you create that is based on the Normal template will have the same default tab stop settings.

MORE INFORMATION

When you change the Default Tab Stops option in the Tabs dialog box, Word sets the default tabs stops for the current document only. New documents will not reflect the change.

When you create a new document based on the Normal template, the default tab stop settings occur every 0.5 inch. Therefore, to make certain all new documents have the same default tab settings, you must open the Normal template file and make the change to the template. To modify your Normal template, follow these steps:

  1. On the File menu, click Open.

  2. Under Select a Document, switch to the Templates folder (the default folder is, Macintosh HD:Microsoft Office 98:Templates), select Normal, and then click Open.

  3. On the Format menu, click Tabs.

  4. Change Default Tab Stops to the desired value.

  5. Click OK.

  6. On the File menu, click Save.

  7. Close the template.

Now when you create a new document (based on the Normal template), the default tabs stops will be based on the change just made to the Normal template.

NOTE: You can set the default tab stops in any template, with this procedure, but instead of opening the Normal template, open the desired template and make the same changes in steps 2-6.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q142099
   TITLE     : WD: How to Change Default Tabs Stops Globally in Microsoft
               Word


Additional query words: set setting changing changes stop global
globally defaulting defaults howto
Keywords : kbformat macword98 kbfaq
Version : MACINTOSH:98
Platform : MACINTOSH
Issue type : kbhowto kbprb
Solution Type : kbworkaround


THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: February 17, 1998
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.